T’24s Ashwin Chandrasekhar and Fiona Frick reflect on their Tuck Global Insight Expedition (GIX) experiences. Ashwin joined Professor Lauren Lu for the AI and Data-Driven Innovation in the Chinese Economy course, while Fiona explored Chile as part of the project-based New Product Innovation in Food and Agriculture course.
By Fiona Frick T'24
What site visits, tours, meetings, and/or people were most impactful for you during the GIX?
During our time in Chile, we participated in numerous activities including a guided tour of Santiago, an olive oil tasting led by a Chilean expert, multiple factory tours at local sustainable food and agriculture businesses, a hike in Santa Cruz wine country, and an afternoon at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, to name a few.
The factory visits brought my learnings from the Tuck curriculum to life as I walked the floors observing olive oil made from start to finish at a large scale. I was awed by the efficient operations and complex moving parts to bring the final product to life! On a personal level, I found the Museum of Memory and Human Rights deeply altered my preconceived notions of Chile.
How did Tuck faculty and/or staff contribute to your overall GIX experience?
On our trip, we were led by three critical individuals on the ground in Chile. First, Professor Daniella Reichstetter T’07 served as the lead of the GIX. I was so grateful to have her as our faculty member given she had previous experience in Chile, spoke the language, and professionally had expertise in the entrepreneurial space, lending well to the go-to-market project we worked on over the course of the trip. Second, Rodrigo, was our in-country expert who facilitated all the opportunities for us to integrate into the local culture as quickly as possible. The trip would not have been possible without him. Rodrigo exuded passion for Chile, generously connected us with his vast local network, and was always willing to answer the unending questions we had about life and work in Chile. Lastly, Adam Sylvain from Tuck served as a great on-the-ground operations resource to keep the whole group on schedule and organized so we could focus on soaking in the entire experience.
Do you think this experience will be valuable for your post-Tuck career? How and why?
Yes! Without a doubt, I hope and believe the GIX will stay with me throughout my post-Tuck career. I intend to work in the hospitality industry in a strategy and founder capacity where it is critical to gain comfort in international markets, particularly emerging markets like Chile where the tourism industry only continues to grow. Moreover, the GIX shed light on the art of gathering. Across countries, cultures, age, gender, race, and language, the GIX was a unique opportunity to bring people together through a shared experience that fostered an opportunity to create new relationships and strengthened existing ones. It ties well into my current course, Power and Influence, reminding me relationships are crucial to the long-term success of your career.
What should prospective students know about the GIX and/or TuckGO requirement?
GIX exceeded my expectations. I encourage every prospective student to participate in a TuckGO opportunity accessible to them. There are three factors I would consider when evaluating the GIX opportunities. First, consider exploring a country where you don’t know the language. For me, it served as great reminder to have empathy for non-native speakers in the workplace and provided an opportunity to improve my Spanish in Chile. Second, reflect on whether the GIX will more directly impact your post-Tuck career goals or if you would like to try something completely different. I chose Chile because it aligned with my long-term goals in the hospitality industry. Lastly, select an option that will push you outside of your comfort zone to challenge your biases and change your perspective.
Prior to Tuck, Fiona Frick T'24 grew up in the Boston suburbs before calling Bates College home where she majored in European Studies. She spent the next six years working in a mixture of education and real estate. At Tuck, she is involved in Tuck Women in Business, TuckTalks, Small Group Dinner, Visiting Executive Program, and Admissions. After Tuck, she’ll be in DC at Marriott working on their Business Intelligence team. Out of the classroom and office, Fiona loves to get outside for hikes, long walks, and seeks out every chance to bop around the Norwich Farmers’ Market.
By Ashwin Chandrasekhar T’24
What interested you about the GIX location and topic?
My interest in the GIX to China was multifaceted. As part of the leadership development program at Tuck, I articulated my leadership vision as enabling “diverse teams to harness the full potential of its diversity.” This vision fueled my curiosity about China's capacity for building a global business, as well as exploring the potential for bridging the gap between nations experiencing strained relations, particularly the USA, India, and China.
What awaited me was a transformative experience that transcended mere concepts and data points. China's central role in global supply chains became vividly apparent as I witnessed firsthand its ability to swiftly replicate and distribute high-technology goods, such as electric vehicles and MRI machines, at an affordable scale. These weren't just abstract notions anymore; they were tangible realities shaping the global economic landscape.
I realized that China's status as the world's factory is underpinned by an ecosystem of millions of entrepreneurs. This ranges from freelancers in Dafen Art Village to independent coders creating websites to aggregate demand for artists, to travel agencies adept at catering to Western sensibilities. These elements collectively contribute to the proliferation of imitation Van Gogh paintings that adorn our walls and enrich our lives.
Tuck students play chess against a robot while visiting Tencent—one of the highest-grossing multimedia companies in the world—in Shenzhen, China.
What is a key takeaway from this experience? What have you learned?
The key takeaway from my GIX experience is the profound potential lying at the intersection of diverse economies and entrepreneurial landscapes. Witnessing firsthand the dynamic ecosystems of India, China, and the United States, I recognized the immense value of integrating their capabilities to drive profitable ventures and foster global prosperity.
I observed the unique ways in which the American, Indian, and Chinese economies complement each other. America provides a world-class education system, fostering a monopoly of ideas and innovation. China offers the industriousness to produce quickly and deploy affordably, while India provides a low-cost, white-collar workforce adept in coding, sales, and marketing. Despite any political rhetoric, it's evident that China can produce not only low-tech toys but also technologically advanced products like electric vehicles.
What site visits, tours, meetings, and/or people were most impactful for you during the GIX?
The visits to Lingyin Temple and Yu Gardens left quite a mark on me. The Lingyin Temple serves as a remarkable testament to China's mastery of blending natural elements like rock, water, and vegetation to craft stunning landscapes. This, along with Hangzhou’s West Lake, exemplifies the deep historical roots of this cultural practice. The Yu Gardens are a perfect embodiment of this quest for natural elegance and serenity.
Furthermore, I was fascinated to learn that an Indian person founded the Lingyin Temple, which features several depictions of historical Indian people. This highlights the longstanding, yet often overlooked, historical ties between our two nations, which have been overshadowed by economic competition and geopolitical tensions. One of my personal goals is to foster contemporary connections between India and China. India has much to gain from understanding and engaging with China's developmental journey.
Do you think this experience will be valuable for your post-Tuck career? How and why?
Absolutely! This GIX experience holds immense value for my post-Tuck career trajectory. I intend to leverage insights gained from the trip throughout my career. In business contexts such as classrooms and networking calls, I want to elucidate the 'Chinese opportunity' more thoroughly, especially where it may be underrecognized or unexplored. Our visit to Tencent and their advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) confirmed that China is on a unique trajectory in Artificial Intelligence. There is much to learn, understand, and share to ensure that this technology benefits those who need it most. In fact, I've excitedly set a personal goal to become fluent in Mandarin within three to five years!
Before Tuck, Ashwin Chandrasekhar T’24 was Vice President at the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) where he led fintech and compliance projects that support SMBs. Before GAME, he was a management consultant with Dalberg Advisors, one of the world's largest social impact advisory firms. Ashwin is currently recruiting for product roles in fintech.
Create a profile to learn more about Tuck and receive news and updates
